Culturally Which Item would you like to recommend and share genuinely from your country?

Whereas culture is a universal language and thanking the international platform that TED provides us. I would like to propose a new topic of conversation. Interested participants could inform about the more outstandind of their country: music, pictures, traditions, books, even films, all culturally open. If the references are visible through internet in a simple search that would be most appreciated.

Closing Statement from paco lopez

I want to thank all participants for their valuable contribution and to TED the opportunity to exchange views among so interesting people, really it has been a nice experience. Thanks to all of you.

Jan 25 2014:
Thank you Greg for your interest. I know your libraries are really excellent. In Spain good bookshops or libraries are mostly in the universities, not everyone has acces to them. I have seen in London some very good but for the rest of Europe humbly I don´t know.
In Spain, we, culturally, have to educate ourselves because our Governments do very little,This country is in perpetual crisis. The spaniards generally read very little but who does it choose wisely.

Jan 21 2014:
America is comparatively such a young country it's hard to forward anything as a lasting cultural contribution. Given that, I'll offer Rock & Roll music and American movies as our addition to world culture

Jan 22 2014:
Many thanks Lawren. Firstly for your Thumb and secondly for your recommendations. I´ve watched Casablanca many times and in terms of Johnny B.Goode is one of my favorite songs, I like also the Elvis Presley alive version and overall that of Johnny Winter. As for you say that your country is Young, Yes, I would say "fortunately" because it is a relay in the cultural race. My opinion is that the U.S. culture is as valuable as the old one. The music of Philip Glass or Gershwin are very important. I felt excited listening to An American in Paris http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ros66y1aZ-E
because for me it is a reflection of the dynamism of your country and the american people. I also admire Hopper and Rockwell paintings. We could spend hours talking about American Culture.
Thank you again Lawren and I love your country music too. (even Dolly Parton!)

Jan 28 2014:
This conversation ends in a few hours. I want to thank all participants for their valuable contribution and to TED the opportunity to exchange views among so interesting people, really it has been a nice experience. Thanks to all of you.

Jan 27 2014:
Hi Greg. yes because this is now in the newspapers. Let´s see. This book was written by a Fench airman who lived in New York and it was in N.Y.where the value of the work was recognized and release worldwide. In Europe this book now is very important, is studied in schools for children but also in Universities: Now the original manuscript has been discovered at N:Y: Morgan Library. In Spain There is a saying that says "no one is a prophet in his own land"
This is also valid for the whole Europe. This saying is what distinguish América as the land of opportunity.You, americans, appreciate what in other countries is ignored. So. This french writer and his book due to América its succes.
The second point is that it is too bad that the Spaniards don´t read. Love gossips, football and sports is generally the main topic of conversation but number one is political corruption. My country is going through a very serious crisis and people prefer not complicate more their own lives.
Many thanks Greg for your interest. All The best.

Jan 27 2014:
Thank you yoka, a very spectacula video. I know the Beijing Opera and was very impressed but one of the things most impressed me of China was the real place of Emperor Qinshihuang´s mausoleum. In Xian. In a point of the journey the guide showed us a kind of mount where is supposed to be the tomb that may contain mercury rivers and sky made of gemstone.They think it might be one of the wonders of the universe. for discover.

Jan 27 2014:
Yes, thee're so much good cultrual legacy in China.But when I said"last", I meant your thread had little time for me to introduce more,I'm on my trip to a hot spring far from Shanghai now.And I 'll have a rest without internet.:)

Jan 26 2014:
Hi Pabitra, nice to hear from you again! Some Music for example Ravi Shankar? and... Vedas or Upanishads? for meditation. I will confess you I wear in my wrist a thing of your country. It is a "Kara" or bracelet sikh, they say it is a sign of being married with God, the bracelet has something written in your languagei, but I don´t know the translation. However I have read some about the sikh religion and I wear this bracelet with great pride. All the best! and many thanks for being here.

Jan 25 2014:
I believe American libraries are excellent, but I have no basis to compare them not having used libraries in other countries. Have you used them in multiple countries, Paco? How are Spain's? Also, our librarians are very good, smart and helpful.

Jan 27 2014:
Hi Greg!! Another success for your librarians: Today I learned by the newspapers that the Little Prince by Saint Exúpery is really a history of New York, "says Christine Nelson, curator of the new exhibit at the Morgan Library with the manuscript and the original sketches Saint-Exupéry. Congratulations!!

Jan 27 2014:
I'm afraid I don't know the story very well. I was just skimming it on wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Prince but it is hard for me to see how it could be a history of New York. Do you know the connection, Paco?

Jan 24 2014:
Yes, I agree, we are half made in China, that mostly happens today in every country. But as an example your genuinely american cars Made in Detroit , were at the time the admiration of the world as the Chrysler building in architecture, just to mention two examples. Best Regards

Jan 24 2014:
Everything in my country has components of it that were made in different countries, or were made completely in other countries. Mostly China. With that being said I think the only thing that is completely authentically american are the animals that we raise in farms. One thing that I would not recommend from the american culture is watching television shows like Honey Boo Boo. Your I.Q. drops a percentage every time you watch American T.V.

Jan 23 2014:
Many thanks Yoka. From your recommendation I kept this: "The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck for people who are worthy of it "This is from your wikipedia link. I would like to be worthy of that luck. I am very happy to have you in this topic. Culturally, from China is not only about the Dragon is about the whole that interests me. Best regards.

Jan 23 2014:
Hello, paco, thank you for telling me you're interested in the Chinese dragon. Dragons have represented the most superior power and royalty since ancient China. If a dragon is with a phoenix bird(a fiction too),they are called a happy and auspicious couple (dragon stands for the male,phoenix stands for the female)with a very pleasant marriage or wedlock---"龙凤呈祥".
This is the detail for our Chinese dragon's long story:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_dragon

Jan 25 2014:
Hmm, my guess would be they are of usual modern technical standard and service.

In my town you enroll for an annual fee of 22 EUR ($30) as an adult and it is free of charge for all books (except recent bestsellers) below age 18.

Financially weak adults get freed off this fee or price reduction.

The library holds a stock of books at place, but all libraries are connected, so if a book or other media is not available, it will be ordered from another library, usually within one or two days.

The main focus is on regular books, which are free of charge as long as they are no current bestsellers. Also for rent are e-books, audio books, movies, music, board games and computer games, but for those a small charge has to be payed.

If you like you can read within the library or take home what you choose. The usual lending period is 2 weeks, but can be extended if necessary.

To find a book you desire, you either use open computer terminals to locate it within the library, or you ask for help at a service point where librarians will help you out.

Ordering books in advance or from another library, extend lending periods, or to reserve a book for the next lending cycle can be done online from home with a user account one gets with registration.

Jan 26 2014:
They used to be free in Germany too, since austerity programs and tax spending focus changed by the influence of the current market economy, which marked my decision not to use them anymore nor to donate my books I don't need.

Jan 27 2014:
I don't know the exact time when the policy got changed, but I used to donate books in the late 90s, then paused the use of public libraries for some years and learned about the change in 2009.

The connection is simple, as my donation is free of charge, because this is what makes it a donation, I expect this intention to be kept.

And as this ideal still is preserved at 'social warehouses', I give my books to them instead, because there financially weak individuals may come to enjoy and also to own them.

Jan 27 2014:
Thank YOU, Paco :) You've enriched my life a little. I enjoyed the lines you posted, and it made me look into Leonard Cohen a little, listen to some YouTube clips that I really enjoyed, and I'm going to keep an eye out for Flowers for Hitler. What a pleasant conversation you've started! Many gems.

While I'm here, I'll make a New Zealand contribution: "Slice of Heaven" by Dave Dobbyn - a classic peice of Kiwiana. Makes me smile every time I hear it. It's relaxed and good-humoured - some of my favourite Kiwi qualities (that's what I really want to share). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0pWejAnLUQ. The clips in the video are from NZ's first feature length animated film.

Jan 28 2014:
Many thanks to you Sara for participating and contributing in this conversation. Your words are very appreciated by me because they are now part of the most beautiful they have dedicated me, ever! Thank you again because these words say a lot about the sensibility and the wonderful personality of the person (you) who transmit them.
Talking on Leonard Cohen. Do you know the songs: The Partisan, Avalanche and Who by Fire.? They are very important in both, the message and the music
Many Thanks for your link. The second New Zealand anthem!! Nice I really enjoyed both, the music and the accompanying cartoon.
Nice to meet you Sara See you around.

Jan 23 2014:
Well, probably not as old of culture as Yoka's Chinese cuisine and most likely not even close to its sophistication, yet in its simplicity and 'down to earthliness' I would like to share here a fresh and crisp loaf of German rye bread.

It may not be the most representative of all possible German items, yet to me it was the one I missed the most when I lived abroad for some while at a place where nothing similar in taste was available.

And it may well be, that it blends fine with some of Yokas delicacies and what you, Paco, may bring to the table.

Jan 23 2014:
Many thanks for your contribution to this party. I really appreciate your bread but... In Spain we have an old kind or proverb wich says more or less: With bread and water you walk better the road. So don´t be so austere and bring us some wine from your country. What about a bottle of Georg Breuer from Rudesheim. (nice place Rudesheim) I do not know if is well written. or a Donhoff 2003. Currywurst would also be nice to accompany the bread. Regards from Spain (nearly your second home)

Jan 24 2014:
I am sorry, that the item that I 'like to recommend and share genuinely from 'my' country' collides with Spanish proverbs, so I better walk the road then, as I am going to stick to it ... ;o)

Jan 22 2014:
As a foodie and a Chinese, I'd like to recommend you our Chinese Food.:)
Chinese has a 5000-year-old food culture and the ways of cooking are very complicated. Color, aroma,way of presenting, taste of a dish are combined perfectly as a whole.
We have 8 kinds of cuisines representing different characteristics in different regions. Hope you'll like them when you come to China to savor the authentic tastes of Chinese delicacy .

Jan 23 2014:
日冰 ... So long a history and you still haven't figured out a less complicated way to write?

Hmm, all right, maybe another 5000 years will do ... :o)

On dragons, your and my culture seem to be on opposing sides because your dragons behaved nice and brought you fortune whereas ours kept kidnapping the most pretty and beautiful princesses, which, over and over again, had to be freed by brave and stouthearted knights. And once slayed, what do you do with all the meat? :o)

Moreover,our dragon doesn't have any legends about kidnapping beauties. But if I had to deal with their corpse, I think I would try to study on if their meat could be extracted into some medicine to cure people.:)

Jan 23 2014:
Well, being 'healed' from hunger would be a nice cure for any rumbling stomach, wouldn't it? ;o)

And as dragons can usually fly, there is a great chance that it may taste somewhat like poultry? Hmmm, roasted dragon sweet-sour-hot ... ;o)

As of the pictures, I like the first one better, as the second one looks more like a hippopotamus than a dragon and I am now certain that Chinese princesses lived a way more relaxed life than European ones, back in the old ages ... :o)

Jan 23 2014:
Thank you Yoka for the accuracy on kinds of dragons. It is really true. Chinese dragon is not like the european, but what we agree is that they are both dragons. I have at home a Chinese dragon (ornament of course) and i didn´t know they were of a magical or welfare meaning?

Jan 23 2014:
Yoka, as a knight - white or not... (actually, the horse is white, not the knight ... imagine how dirty your suit of armor would get even before you reached your horse) you look after princesses, not other knights - may those starve or not, as they are your competitors in the princess saving race ... ;o)

Jan 23 2014:
哈哈。。。。your "hihi" sounds as sly as a fox---not Chinese language.:)
In Chinese "haha" is 哈哈（Pin Yin is also "haha"),another word of a good laugh is "hehehe----呵呵呵” this one sounds better than "hihi". 呵呵呵呵。。。。。
We also have "xixi---嘻嘻” to express a naughty smile. We can put "xixi"and "haha"together to compose a new phrase"xixihaha----嘻嘻哈哈“ means joking and laughing off. :)))) Do you understand? Hope you haven't got dizzy. 哈哈哈哈。。。

I prefer a black horse , in Chinese a "black horse--黑马"means "dark horse" a very prospective meaning. And I'd wear white to be the white knight to save you.
Dust is a decoration for my fame.You mean I have competitors? No, only I have dragon meat that can make me live for a longer time and after I saved you, I would have one more person to help me because I can't speak German, the princess is a German~!.:)

Jan 24 2014:
As a knight I would also have a black horse, but less for its prospective meaning, than for its practical use. White horses look way to posh to me. The only difficulty would be to find a black horse at night, I assume ...